Rustle—

Stone fragments scattered around, and small clouds of dust swirled in the wind, leaving a lingering sense of chaos.

The subtle heat in the air quickly faded, swept away by the winter breeze.

“What just… happened?”

A nameless martial artist from one of the prominent families muttered quietly, and with that, the previously silent surroundings erupted into a chorus of voices.

“They said it was mixed with Ten Thousand-Year Cold Iron! How did it end up like that?”

“There’s a hole in it!”

While the others taking the exam had barely managed to make a tiny scratch to pass, here someone had outright shattered the pillar.

Of course, this kind of reaction was inevitable.

Though the one responsible for this situation wasn’t exactly in a position to enjoy the admiration.

‘I should’ve controlled myself better.’

No, I shouldn’t have mixed in any heat at all. While I wasn’t aiming for just a small scratch like the others, completely breaking it was over the top.

‘They told you to take it easy, you idiot.’

I might have needed to blow off some steam, but this was way too much.

And on top of that—

“Hehe…”

Why was she here?

When we moved to the plain to take the exam, I had spotted a familiar face among the instructors.

‘So that’s what she meant when she said we’d meet again.’

The woman who was now trying to suppress her laughter while watching the mess I had made was none other than the Plum Blossom Sword Empress.

‘They said this Shinryongwan was managed by Kunlun, but…’

Why was she here in the first place?

The fact that the Sword Empress was acting as an instructor was one thing, but—

‘Kunlun’s sect leader actually accepted this?’

Having a grandmaster-level martial artist from another sect assist with this exam was surprising, but her presence was even more unexpected.

It was odd that the Blue Sea One Sword had so readily agreed to this, considering the prestige and attention someone like the Sword Empress would draw.

‘There must have been negotiations behind the scenes.’

But that wasn’t something I could know.

More importantly—

‘Do they have another one of these?’

I was staring at the shattered stone pillar.

Surely they had a spare. This was Kunlun, after all. They wouldn’t be that careless.

But what if they didn’t?

‘What are you going to do about it?’

It’ll work out somehow…

I brushed my face with my hand as I surveyed the situation. The Sword Empress, who had been chuckling for a while, finally managed to contain her laughter as she spoke.

“Group 2, Gu Yangcheon. Passed.”

When my name came from the Sword Empress, laced with internal energy—

“Gu Yangcheon…?”

That’s when the people around me started to realize who I was.

“Jinryong, Gu Yangcheon?”

They began to recognize me.

Ugh… I still haven’t gotten used to that stupid title they’ve attached to my name.

And during that brief moment—

Crack.

I caught a glimpse of someone slyly making a small scratch on another pillar and moving on.

A faint fissure appeared where they had lightly struck.

Amidst the murmuring voices, the instructor overseeing the scene spoke.

“Group 2, Bijeon… passed.”

After those words, Bijeon glanced in my direction with a faint smile.

‘That guy?’

It seemed Bijeon had taken advantage of the commotion I caused to slip through unnoticed. Clever, damn it.

...I was planning to do the same thing.

‘He got me.’

To think he had the same idea as I did.

‘Well, he’s the Pajeon after all. Someone like him wouldn’t want to draw attention here.’

What would someone of his caliber do in a place filled with young novices anyway?

‘And yet, here he is, playing along.’

I was in the same position, so I shouldn’t talk. This is why I need to learn to manage my anger better.

Losing control of my emotions only leads to more unnecessary problems.

I glanced at the shattered pieces of stone on the ground and turned around.

Walking through the murmuring crowd, I thought to myself—

‘…Might as well go all out.’

Since I’d already drawn attention, I might as well make the most of it.

Meanwhile…

"I heard it from Plum Blossom Sword."

When the Sword Empress had met the Blue Sea One Sword, his gaze wasn’t exactly welcoming.

Given the situation, it was understandable.

This kind of meeting wouldn’t have happened if not for the head of the Mount Hua Sect.

"You wish to come to Shinryongwan as an instructor for next month’s exam?"

"Yes."

"May I ask why?"

The Blue Sea One Sword’s cold eyes pierced the Sword Empress. It was the keen intuition of someone who had trained with the sword their entire life.

But the Sword Empress didn’t waver.

This was something she had expected.

"I won’t believe for a second that your only reason is to teach these young martial artists."

"Do you not believe that could be my genuine reason, Sect Leader?"

"The world isn’t that simple, and you know it better than anyone."

"…"

That’s right.

This wasn’t a world where such kind intentions could exist. Not since the demon realm had opened.

The Sword Empress understood this better than anyone.

"You must have another goal."

"Yes."

The Sword Empress answered honestly, stating that she had something she needed to do at Shinryongwan.

The Blue Sea One Sword stared at her for a long moment before speaking.

"This request came from Plum Blossom Sword, and I have been given the discretion to handle it as I see fit. I won’t deny your request."

"Thank you…"

"But only if you agree to do me a favor."

Swoosh.

A cool breeze suddenly filled the room, and the Sword Empress tensed.

The wind filling the room could become razor-sharp at any moment if the Blue Sea One Sword so desired.

"You have two options."

"…I’m listening."

"First, you tell me your reason, and you do me a small favor."

Tell him why she wanted to come to Shinryongwan, and in return, fulfill a minor request.

The Sword Empress quietly listened to his words, then responded.

"I’d like to hear the second option."

She sought the alternative.

Even though the Blue Sea One Sword had said he wouldn’t grant her request without knowing her reason, he had still presented two choices.

And sure enough—

"The second option is you don’t tell me your reason, but you do me a much bigger favor."

The Blue Sea One Sword offered the answer the Sword Empress had been waiting for.

"I’ll take the second option."

Without much hesitation, the Sword Empress made her decision. The Blue Sea One Sword looked slightly surprised.

"You must find it difficult to explain your reason."

"…If there’s an option where I don’t have to explain it, I’d prefer that."

"Hmm… Do you even know what I’m going to ask you to do?"

"I’m prepared to listen."

The Sword Empress showed no sign of hesitation. The Blue Sea One Sword stroked his chin thoughtfully.

Was it difficult to bring up what he was going to ask?

The Sword Empress silently waited for him to speak.

After a long pause, the Blue Sea One Sword finally revealed his request.

"…A red demon gate has appeared in Blue Sea."

At those words, the Sword Empress’s eyes widened in shock.

‘A red demon gate?’

As the entrance exam day approached, the Sword Empress had accepted the Blue Sea One Sword’s request and had come to Shinryongwan as an instructor.

But even now, the Blue Sea One Sword’s words still echoed in her mind.

‘…A red demon gate has appeared, and it will open soon.’

He had said it would likely open by next autumn.

But for the Sword Empress, what mattered wasn’t just the appearance of the gate.

The bigger question was why, if the Blue Sea One Sword was telling the truth, he hadn’t informed the Martial Alliance about the gate.

And why, despite this situation, he had chosen to take on the role of head instructor at Shinryongwan.

More importantly—

‘Why would he take on the role of head instructor at all?’

If a red demon gate had appeared in the Kunlun region, there was no way anything could be more important than that—not even overseeing the Shinryongwan entrance exams.

While other colors of demon gates could be dealt with by sufficiently skilled martial artists, the records showed that red demon gates were different.

The Sword Empress found it hard to believe that the Blue Sea One Sword would prioritize fame over the safety of his land.

‘What could his reason be?’

She wasn’t the only one with lingering questions.

There had clearly been some kind of negotiation between the Blue Sea One Sword and the leaders of the Martial Alliance.

And even with all these thoughts swirling in her mind, the Sword Empress had still accepted the Blue Sea One Sword’s request.

If the red demon gate truly opened, it was simply a matter of when the Sword Empress would be called to deal with it.

From her perspective, no matter how distant the location, if a red demon gate opened, she would have gone, with or without this agreement.

‘For now, I should focus on why I’m here.’

The Sword Empress reminded herself of her reason for coming to Shinryongwan.

‘I need to find it as soon as possible.’

Somewhere within Shinryongwan, there was a plum blossom stone.

Even Plum Blossom Sword was unaware of its existence.

If not for him telling her, she would never have known either.

But now that she knew, she had to find it. For the events that were to come.

“Group 2, Seon Ui-seok. Passed.”

After announcing the final successful candidate for Group 2, the sun had already begun to set.

They had to finish the second round of exams by the end of the day, which meant the process would likely continue late into the night.

The instructors gathered to review the day’s events.

From the Martial Alliance’s side to the Kunlun Sect’s martial artists, most of those gathered were highly skilled, and many bore notable titles.

Despite that, nearly all eyes were focused on the Sword Empress.

Given the weight of the title Sword Empress, it was no surprise that someone of her status was out of place in such a setting.

While the Sword Empress didn’t seem to pay much attention to the stares, she calmly wrapped up her duties.

“Only about half of the candidates failed.”

“I’m surprised so many made it through.”

“Yes, this group seems particularly strong.”

“A hundred or so out of the lot…."

The number of candidates allowed to enter was fixed, so for the instructors, it was an inconvenient situation.

As they continued their discussions, one instructor spoke up.

“From what we’ve seen so far, it looks like there are at least ten clear standouts.”

It seemed most agreed, as they nodded in response.

Everyone could already picture the ten candidates the instructor was referring to.

“…It seems the top spot is also decided.”

The instructor’s words drew the attention of many to a particular place.

There were still remnants of the shattered pillar, which everyone remembered clearly.

None of them could forget the moment when a youth, not even twenty years old, had shattered the pillar with a single strike.

And the thought that crossed everyone’s mind was the same—

Could I have done that?

It was a question they asked themselves.

Along with—

‘Jinryong.’

The youth’s title had now firmly planted itself in the instructors' minds.

The Sword Empress watched them with a curious expression.

‘He went a little overboard.’

But she found herself somewhat satisfied.

While it was true that the Sword Empress had come to Shinryongwan with a purpose, part of that purpose included Gu Yangcheon.

Her disciple had often talked about how her brother was entering Shinryongwan, and she had been curious to see how much he had grown.

The Sword Empress thought of the fierce-looking young man and mused to herself.

‘If there is to be a future supreme master, it will be him.’

It was a bold statement.

To claim that a young martial artist could surpass the Three Sovereigns and the emerging new generation was no small prediction.

But even so, the Sword Empress was certain.

If Gu Yangcheon continued to grow and reached his prime, he would undoubtedly become the supreme master of the future.

Gu Yangcheon had the presence and talent to make it happen.

At least, that was her judgment.

As the Sword Empress tucked a letter into her robe, she heard a voice.

“Anything noteworthy from Group 1?”

The instructor from Group 2 asked about Group 1.

“Noteworthy… well, there was plenty.”

He chose his words carefully.

Group 1 was made up of some of the most distinguished young martial artists.

There was the Poison Phoenix from the Tang family.

Seol Bong from the Moyong family.

The daughter of the Paeng family.

And the Sword Dance Mistress of the Namgung family.

All the daughters of the Four Great Families were gathered here.

On top of that, there were the descendants of the Hwangbo family and even the Alliance Leader’s son.

The only real surprise was that the Thunder Dragon had dropped out due to family matters.

Looking at Group 1, it was clear that the future leaders of the martial world were all here.

Ironically, though, none of their actions had come close to topping what Gu Yangcheon had done.

There was only one other incident that stood out.

The famed beauty, the Sword Dance Mistress, had shown up wearing a veil and, seemingly tired, lightly etched a cross onto her pillar before disappearing.

The Sacred Star had left a long sword mark.

And then—

“Is it true that the successor of the Sword Sovereign is here?”

The current successor of the Sword Sovereign had appeared.

“…Yes.”

The Sword Sovereign’s successor.

This had been the talk of the group ever since the moment the successor had unsheathed her sword.

The graceful aura and movements had all the hallmarks of the Moonlit Dance Sword, the technique created by the Sword Sovereign.

Had Gu Yangcheon not shattered the pillar, the conversation would have been entirely dominated by talk of the Sword Sovereign’s successor.

Among them, the instructor for Group 1, Cho Wi-seok, remained quietly reflective.

‘The Sacred Star as the top candidate? What a foolish assumption.’

He felt embarrassed for having drawn such a conclusion based on a mere fragment of the picture.

As he recalled the performances of the other candidates in Group 1, he couldn’t help but swallow hard.

The Sword Dance Mistress, who had left only a shallow mark on the pillar, was not someone to be underestimated.

Her casual swing had left a clear mark, and if she had been serious, the result would have been unimaginable.

Seol Bong had been a bit underwhelming, but the Poison Phoenix had exceeded expectations.

Compared to the young martial artists of his generation, the ones here now were on a completely different level.

And then there was the Sword Sovereign’s successor.

‘One sword strike.’

Toward the end of the exam, the successor had cut the pillar cleanly in half, leaving no room for doubt about her abilities.

The cleanly severed stone had demonstrated just how flawlessly the sword had been wielded.

The aura of moonlight that had accompanied that strike was unmistakably the Sword Sovereign’s art.

There were truly monsters among this group.

Cho Wi-seok had to acknowledge it.

This was the era of meteors.

With so many rising stars gathered here, it was clear that the upcoming events at Shinryongwan would be anything but ordinary.

‘This is truly… unusual.’

It was strange, indeed.

There were far too many brilliant stars gathered in one place.

As the second exam began, Gu Yangcheon found himself frowning deeply.

The wait time had already been long, and now, after hearing the exam’s contents, he was even more dumbfounded.

It wasn’t just the exam itself that was ridiculous.

What was even more absurd was—

“It’s been a while.”

“…Let me ask you something first.”

Gu Yangcheon responded gruffly to the sweet voice that reached his ears.

And with good reason.

While the others were facing nobodies, his opponent was anything but ordinary.

“Is this really a random assignment?”

“Of course, it is.”

The woman answered Gu Yangcheon’s question with a bright smile, but he didn’t believe her for a second.

Rustle.

With the sound of falling petals, a beautiful scent of plum blossoms filled the air.

Of course—

Shing…

Despite the delicate atmosphere, the killing intent radiating from her sword was anything but pleasant.

Whether she knew it or not, the woman whispered to Gu Yangcheon.

“Let’s have some fun, shall we?”

Staring at her smile, Gu Yangcheon let out a weary sigh.

“This can’t be happening… not for real.”

Standing before him, sword drawn and ready to fight, was none other than—

‘Why is it always me?’

—the Plum Blossom Sword Empress.